Abe’s Mongolia trip to focus on energy issues

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will visit Mongolia from Saturday through Sunday and meet Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj and Prime Minister Norov Altankhuyag, Japanese officials said Wednesday.

Japan’s relationship with Mongolia is particularly important, given the Asian nation’s rich coal and precious mineral deposits, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told a news conference, adding that the summit will include meetings on energy-related issues.

Suga also noted that the suspension of most of the nation’s nuclear power plants because of the Fukushima triple-meltdown crisis has cost the country more than ¥3 trillion each year to import energy resources from overseas.

“We’d like to further develop the strategic partnership with Mongolia,” Suga said.